Quinta do Romeu 'Atelier' Branco de Maceracao 2019 (750ml)

Quinta do Romeu has been exploring the mineral character of Rabigato through cloudy fermentations at warmer temperatures. In this case, the Branco de Maceação had Rabigato fermented together with Arinto, looking for its citric acidity and freshness as a backbone. The grapes were hand-harvested and crushed (50% stems) to an open tank where the grapes fermented spontaneously on the skins without temperature control. After a vertical pressing, the wine aged shortly over the winter in used 500L barrels and after racking, was directly bottled by gravity. This way, enhancing the minerality with a slightly reductive environment inside the bottle. Although austere, the finished wine shows some hints of tropical fruit on the nose overcoming the skin contact character. Dangerously drinkable, and in the mouth it is very textured, quite wide, and with lovely structure. Don’t over-chill.

In 1874, Clemente Guimarães Menéres had the vision for his family to produce some of Portugal's greatest wines and olive oil and founded this family business. Now, the family resides in the district of Bragança (in the northeast side of Portugal) and has a beautiful estate that sits in the far northeast of the Douro wine region. A steadfast commitment to the harmony of their project is truly spectacular, as they seek balance between their crops, the environment, their people, and their economy. An awareness of the feet on the ground and the divine in heaven guides their practices. Since 1997, their entire production is certified organic and they practice many biodynamic philosophies on about 25 hectares of grapes and 120 hectares of olives. Naturally, they see the benefits of zero additives to the wine and minimal additions of sulfur, and avoid all international varieties to focus only on the local indigenous grapes (where Touriga Nacional in this area shows an intense floral component from the unique shale soils). Romeu is making some of the cleanest and most beautiful dry reds that we have found throughout Portugal!

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